English Studies· 2026Q1
Christ’s Body, Affective Devotion and Female Spirituality in the Old English Descent into Hell
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- 2026year
Short summary
The Old English poem The Descent into Hell showcases speculative vernacular theology through Christ's bodily descent, affective devotions, and a distinct female spirituality, potentially composed for a female monastic audience.
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Key points
- The Old English poem 'The Descent into Hell' is analyzed as speculative vernacular theology.
- Key theological aspects include Christ's bodily descent, affective devotions, and female spirituality.
- Parallels are drawn with Irish and Syriac theological traditions.
- The poem may have been composed for a female monastic audience.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
This article reads the Old English poem traditionally known as The Descent into Hell as an example of sophisticated, creative and speculative theology in the vernacular. In order to do so, it highlights the three most striking theological aspects of the poem’s content and structure: the depiction of Christ’s bodily descent into Sheol; the inclusion of devotions typically associated with later-medieval affective piety; and the distinctively female spirituality suggested by the poet’s adaptation of the Gospel. As well as identifying parallels with Irish and Syriac theology, it explores the possibility that the poem was composed for a female monastic audience.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. English Studies, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Classics
ClassicsArts and Humanities